Laggan Lard Butts by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online

instant Mr. McGregor got up from his seat, circled his desk and perched on its edge. This was different. Different made me nervous.
    â€œSo, boys, how is the campaign going?” he asked.
    Was he snarling? No that was a smile.
    I waited for one of the twins to answer. They were waiting for me. I guess it was best to go with experience. I had the most experience with office visits so it was up to me.
    â€œIt’s going pretty good.”
    â€œThere were some great suggestions,” he said. “I have my personal favorite, although it’s best that I don’t tell anybody. I wouldn’t want to influence the students by telling them which one I want to win.”
    I was pretty sure Lard Butts wasn’t on his shortlist.
    â€œI’m more interested in how
your
campaign is going.” He gave that same snarly sort of smile. I felt like shuddering. I liked his serious yelling face much better.
    â€œOkay, I guess.”
    â€œNot as good as some of them,” Tanner chipped in, again trying to move the conversation in a different direction. That was smart.
    â€œSome of the teams have fancy posters and banners and cheers,” he said.
    â€œWe don’t even have a motto really,” Taylor said.
    â€œYeah, I think we’re in last place,” Tanner said. Mr. McGregor’s face seemed to loosen up a little. I’m sure that made him happy.
    â€œI was wondering if you boys could do me a favor,” he said.
    â€œSure!” Tanner said.
    â€œOf course,” Taylor agreed.
    â€œDepends on the favor,” I said, and all three of them looked at me. The sound of escaping air came from Mr. McGregor.
    â€œI wonder if you would consider—and this is strictly your choice, you are under no pressure whatsoever—allowing the name Lard Butt to be removed from the list?”
    â€œIt’s not going to win,” I said.
    â€œHopefully not.”
    I laughed. “So much for not telling us what name you want to win.”
    â€œI didn’t tell you what I want to win,” he said. “I’m telling you what name I
don’t
want to win.”
    â€œDon’t worry, it won’t win. Like I said, it’s in third or fourth place at best.”
    â€œIt is now.” He paused. “You three have a great deal of influence with your peers.”
    â€œWe do?” I asked.
    â€œCertainly. You’re popular and play on all the teams. Winning your last game certainly didn’t hurt. And even when you
occasionally
get into trouble it’s not for doing anything hurtful toward another student.”
    â€œNever.”
    â€œGenerally you’re friends with, and friendly to, almost everybody,” he said.
    â€œAlmost everybody.” He’d probably heard me bickering with Sarah. There was something about her that brought out the worst in me. That smug little smile, always knowing the answers, how she always had her makeup done just perfectly, wore the right clothes and smelled so good and—
    â€œSo would you consider abandoning your campaign?” he asked.
    Tanner and Taylor both looked over at me, as if it was my decision.
    â€œI don’t think we can do that,” I said. “A winner never quits and a quitter never wins, right?”
    He nodded his head slowly. “I didn’t think you’d agree, but I felt obligated to ask. Thanks for listening. Please go and finish your lunch.”
    â€œThanks.”
    We all got up. We started to leave and I remembered I’d brought a chair into the office. I bumped past the twins to grab it.
    â€œI really don’t think it’s going to win,” I said to Mr. McGregor.
    â€œI think you might be right, but you could be wrong. Do you really want the teams to be called the Lard Butts?”
    I shrugged.
    â€œKeep that in mind as you continue your campaign.”

chapter ten
    I looked down at the empty end of the court. There was only five minutes left until the